In June, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) held its sixth annual Wear White Luncheon at the historic Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Over 50 attendees, dressed in white as a powerful symbol of unity for all cancers, came together to advance CRI’s commitment to driving discovery, accelerating collaboration, and turning breakthroughs into lifesaving treatments.
Hosted by long-time supporters Mary Jo Bramson and Pamela Bringsjord, the inspiring event celebrated community, scientific progress and CRI’s unwavering commitment to a world immune to cancer.
Why Fundraising Matters: Bridging the Gap in Cancer Research Funding
During her opening remarks, CRI’s CEO Alicia Zhou, PhD, outlined CRI’s recent achievements and future goals, highlighting CRI’s critical role in transforming the immuno-oncology landscape.
Today, the uncertainties in federal funding and the budget cuts at agencies like the National Institute of Health (NIH) disproportionately impacts early career scientists and innovative work that doesn’t yet have established support.
In response to mounting uncertainty in federal research funding, CRI pledged an emergency $2.5 million to fund an additional 10 postdoctoral fellowships over the next year. In a further show of support, CRI also offered all its current fellows in their final year of funding a six-month extension to help ensure continuity and stability during this turbulent time.
Recognizing that discovery only matters if it reaches people, CRI also dedicates its patient programs to connecting people to educational resources on immunotherapy, information and access to clinical trials, and inspiring patient stories that help guide and inspire us.
“Values like this are a reminder that science needs community, that progress isn’t automatic,” Dr. Zhou said.
Real Impact: From Clinical Trial to Cancer-Free
Mary Elizabeth Williams, a CRI ImmunoAdvocate and stage 4 melanoma survivor, shared her personal story, underscoring the transformative impact of immunotherapy on her life. After being diagnosed in 2011, she faced a daunting reality but received a glimmer of hope when her doctors proposed a clinical trial for which she was an ideal candidate.
The clinical trial was conducted by Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD, the Meyer Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Wolchok is also an associate director of CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council.
The trial studied two checkpoint inhibitor drugs, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo) for patients with metastatic melanoma. Her treatment was remarkably successful, and she remains cancer-free, showcasing the transformative power of immunotherapy. This treatment regimen has since been approved by the FDA to also treat renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
“This world has changed so dramatically because of people like Jedd Wolchok, James Allison, and organizations like CRI,” Williams stated.
Spotlight on Science: Advancing Immunotherapy Through Innovation
As the final speaker, Andrea Schietinger, PhD, a CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, provided guests with an engaging overview of the groundbreaking research being conducted in her lab.
“In the lab, we asked the question: Why is the immune system not able to detect and eliminate cancer cells in the same way when you have a viral or bacterial infection?” Dr. Schietinger explained.
Her research explores the link between cancer and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, focusing on how immune cells behave in both conditions, in order to develop more effective cancer immunotherapies. Her work highlights the interconnectedness of immune responses in different diseases and opens new avenues for developing revolutionary cancer treatments.
Dr. Schietinger described CRI’s STAR Award as a special grant funding mechanism that allows risk.
Wear White, Work Together: A Community for a Cure
The luncheon concluded with a heartfelt thank you to all attendees and supporters, whose contributions are vital to CRI’s mission of creating a world immune to cancer.
The event’s success was a testament to the dedication and generosity of everyone involved, and CRI extends its immense gratitude to Mary Jo Bramson, Pamela Bringsjord, Dr. Andrea Schietinger, Mary Elizabeth Williams, and all who participated.
